Soochow University, a key provincial university of Jiangsu province and part of the national "Project 211" has a long and respected history. Established in 1900 as the former Soochow University (called Dongwu University in Chinese), it has witnessed constant change and continuous development for over a century.

Now, as a substantial comprehensive university, its education has 12 disciplines based on a solid foundation, high educational efficiency, and an enviable reputation both at home and abroad, with over 300,000 professional talents already graduated.

Founded on March 7, 1878 by Bishop Isaac Hellmuth (1817-1901) of the Anglican Diocese of Huron, 'The Western University of London Ontario' opened its doors to students for the first time in 1881 with four faculties - Arts, Divinity, Law and Medicine.

In 1916, the current campus was purchased from the Kingsmill family, and in 1923 the university was renamed The University of Western Ontario.

Since that first class graduated in 1883, the university has become a vibrant centre of learning. Through 12 faculties and three affiliated university colleges, Western today offers its 36,000-plus students more than 400 specializations, majors and minors.

Soochow University and Western University will develop a platform for research collaboration, scientific exchange, training of highly qualified personnel, and technology innovation and commercialization in synchrotron radiation. The Soochow University-Western University Centre for Synchrotron Radiation Research will combine the strength and experience of Soochow University and Western University in nanotechnology and synchrotron radiation to boost exchange and collaborative research between the two universities in the area of synchrotron radiation, to enhance research capability and capacity in this and related areas, to assemble a critical mass of expertise and resources, which in turn will provide sustainable support for advancement using large scaled synchrotron radiation facilities.